Hospital bed



D. C. TRAVIS HOSPITAL BED March 2; 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1948 Rw. mii mw, NN uw, mx. .n w3 G S w D l l/ .l

| n2: Il i 1- March 2, 1954 D, C, TRAWS y 2,670,476

` HOSPITAL BED y Filed Feb. 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2, 1954 D, C. TRAvls 2,670,476

HOSPITAL BED Filed`Feb. 13. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v5 Q2 Q (.54 40 ,@022 @d/@daal Patented Mar. 2, 1954 HOSPITAL BED Don Carlos Travis, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,092

'9 Claims.

The main objects of this invention are, to provide an improved construction and arrangement of hospital beds of the type shown in Patent No. 2,373,018, issued April 3, 1945, to C. A. Deckert, wherein the several sections of an articulated multi-section bed-bottom are `capable of being shiftable from normal horizontal alinement into and out of various relative, angularlydisposed positions with regard to the bed-bottom supporting-frame; to provide an improved construction of one of the intermediate sections of a bed bottom of this kind which permits a shifting of the mattress-supporting portion relative to said section; to provide improved bedbottom-section shifting-mechanism whereby said mattress-supporting portion is either automatically or manually shiftable angularly of said one bed-bottom section; and to provide improved means for rendering said bed-bottom-section shifting-mechanism operative or inoperative to f Fig. i is a fragmentary detail showing the in- .L

operative position of the latch mechanism by means of which the mattress-supporting portion of one of the intermediate bed-bottom sections is operatively or inoperatively connected with the operating mechanism which shifts said bed-bottom section into and out of angular relationship with the supporting frame;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the preferred form of hospital bed embodying this invention, the bed-bottom sections being shown in one of the extreme relatively angular positions into which they may be shifted;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of this improved type of hospital bed (the bed ends and mattresssupporting fabric, respectively, being omitted for the sake of clarity) with the bed-bottom sections shifted to dispose a patient in an elevated horizontal position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the bed-bottom sections in their normally alined lowered positions with respect to the supporting frame; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the relatively-shiftab-le mattresssupporting portion for one of the intermediate bed-bottom sections lowered into angular relationship with respect to the end bed-bottom section Whereto said intermediate section is hinged.

A bed constructed in accordance with this invention comprises, a main frame iii supporting an articulated multi-section bed-bottom II which, by means of operating mechanism E2, is adapted to have the sections thereof shifted into and out of differing angular relationships for the purpose of supporting a body in diverse positions required for special surgical or medical treatment.

The supporting frame It is of conventional construction for beds of this kind. A pair of side rails I3 and i4 are attached to a head section I5 and a foot section i6 by suitable locking means il, which is herein shown to be of the type disclosed in zzo-pending application Serial No. 3,891, filed January 23, 1948, now Patent No. 2,556,541, issued September 4, 1951. The side rails are preferably angle bars connected together by reinforcing struts I8 and I8 and mounting rock shafts I and 2Q which form a part of the operating mechanism I2. Upstanding brackets 2| are secured to the side rails I3 and I4 to serve as supports for the hinge connection of the intermediate sections of the bed bottom II.

An angle bar 22 is secured to the inner under part of each of the side rails I3 and id, extending nearly the full length of the rails. AIn addition to providing reinforcement for the side rails these angle bars 22 provide eXtra bearing surface for the rock shafts I9 and 2t. Adjacent their foot ends, these bars 22 have slots 23 formed therein (Fig. 3) to receive a part of the adjustable lsupport means, hereinafter to be described, for one of the main sections of the bed bottom The bed bottom II comprises a pair of the main or end sections 2i and 25 which are hingedly connected to intermediate sections 25 and 2l which in turn are hinged to the brackets 2 I. By means of the operating mechanism i2 these bedbottom sections may be selectively shifted into and out ofvarious angular relationships as eX- empliiied in the drawings.

The main bed-bottom sections 2d and 25, gen erally referred to as the head-wing and footwing respectively, are of usual construction. For each this embodies an angle bar bent to U- shaped form and reinforced at the open end by means of a transverse strut 29 or 30, welded at the ends to said angle barsv and depending from the under sides of the respective sections 24 and 25. The mattress-supporting fabric 3i is supported on these U-shaped angle frames in the conventional manner.

The intermediate bed-bottom section 2t includes a carrier portion or member' comprising a pair of arms 2%@ pivoted to the bracket 2! and to the head wing 2t, and a mattress supporting portion 28 comprising a pair of opposed angle iron side members 28a each hinged to the outer end of one of the arms 25a, and connected by a transverse spreader tube or bar S5. The spreader bar 35 assures the unison movement of the side members 28a and is downwardly bowed so as not to interfere with the deflection of the mattress-supporting fabric 3l which extends between the side members 28a. Handles it on the side members 23a permit manual shifting of the mattress supporting portion 28 relative to the arms 26a.

The intermediate bed-bottom section 2 comprises a pair of opposed, angle iron side members connected by a pair of tubular struts or spreader bars 3? and 33 and hinged at 39 to the inner ends of the foot wing 25 and at fi@ to the brackets 2i, the mattress-supporting fabric oeing connected to the side members of the section 2.

The operating mechanism i2, for effecting the desired angular adjustments of the several sections of the bed bottom ii, is of a conventional nature. This comprises three extensible elements 4l, 2, and 23, operated by folding, non-detachable cranks '35, 45, and fifi. rIhese er; ensible elements are connected to the rock shafts i9 and 2t and the strut 38 of the intermediate bed-bottom section 2T, respectively, whereby the head wing 2li and the intermediate sections 2% and 2l are individually shiftable into and out of various angular positions with respect to each other and to the supporting frame lil. Said elements are in the form of telescoping steel screws and nuts enclosed in dust-tight lubrication-retaining tubular housings which are swingably anchored on the reinforcing frame strut i8'.

The rock shaft I is operatively connected to the head Wing 2d by means of a pair of arms Si the upper ends of which are provided with rollers #i8 engaging the under face of the sides of the U-shaped angle-bar frame of said section. A

strut t9 extends between the upper ends oi the arms 41 so as to maintain the rollers i3 in proper spacing and provide appropriate strength for the strains to which these arms lll' will be subjected in swinging the main section or head wing 24, when a patient is lying on the bed bottom il. A bracket 5d, rigid on one of the arms il?, provides for a pivotal connection 5i of the extensible element tl.

'Ihe rock shaft 253, to which the extensible element 42 is pivotally connected at 52 by an arm 53, is connected to the arms 25o of the intermediate bed-bottom section 25 by an arm and link 5d and 551, which are located beneath and adjacent one side of the bed bottom (Fig. l), and to the mattress-supporting portion 2E by means of an. arm 55 and link 5l which are disposed beneath the center of the bed bottom.

The link 55 is pivoted to the arms Eta', of the intermediate bed-bottom section 2E intermediate the ends of said arms` The link 5l' is pivoted at 58 to a nger 59 depending from the reinforcing strut or spreader bar 35 and is slid-- ably pivoted by means of a slot SG and pin si to the arm 56. As clearly shown in lthe figures, the slot Sii extends nearly the entire length of Til 4 the link Si. At its outer or head end the slot S8 terminates in an ofiset 62. The slot St and the onset 2 are so arranged as to permit the latching means *33, presently to be described (see Figs. 2, 4, and 6), to position the pin El in the oiset iig to lock the link il in fixed hinged relationship With the arm or to release it to permit the pin to move freely in the slot The latch mechanism E53, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and ll, comprises a U-shaped rod tt which is swingably suspended from the fabricsupporting side members 28a of the mattresssupporting portion 2S of the intermediate section 25, and a link d5 which is pivoted to the rod @ti at about the center of the rod, and to an extension t6 of the link 5l. The rod Eil is provided with end arms or handles 5l for operating the latch mechanism. As will be most clearly observed from Figure e, the pivot o the link t5 to the rod and to the extension and the pivots of 'the rod on the side members Eto of the mattress-supporting portion of the intermediate section 2t, are such as to constitute a toggle joint, and when the handle is swung counter-clockwise, the link E5 exerts a thrust upon the extension te of link 5l, rotating the link i in a clockwise direction about its pivot This movement of the link 51 places the pin t! into the offset $2 of the slot SG. The dimensions of the lJ-sliaped rod t!! and the link 85 are snch that the pin Si is engaged with the bottoni of the offset before the pivots of the link 5t to the extension 55 and to the rod B4 become aligned with the pivots of the rod Git to the side rails 28a or the mattress-supporting portion 2B. Further lifting of the handle 5l will therefore cause the icl-shaped rod Se to be resiliently bowed as the pivotal connection of the link E5 to the rod passes over center to the looked-in position shown in Figure 2, at which the rod 64 is stopped by its abutment with the extension G6, the rod 5G preferably remaining resiliently bowed in this position to provide a positive force tending to maintain the pin 5i at the bottom of the offset 53.

Thus, when the pin 6i is disposed in the odset 62, and the arm 55 is rocked by the shaft QG, the mattress-supporting portion 28 of the intermediate section 2S is moved relative to the arms 26o, the lengths or" the-arms 55 and 5G, and the lengths of the links 5o and and the placement of their pivotal attachments respectively to the arms 25a and the mattress-supporting portion 2B, being such as to maintain the mattress-supporting portion 2s in a horizonal position (Figs. 5 and 6) when the arms 2te are swung relative to the frame I0.

When the load is removed from the mattresssupporting portion 23, as for example, when the latter is lifted by means of the handles 36, the i-shaped rod Si! may be shifted from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure e, during which movement the link [i5 causes the link 57 to rotate counter-clockwise to displace the pin 5i from the offset E32, and if the arm is thereafter rocked, the pin 6E moves freely in the slot EG. This permits the mattress-supporting portion 28 of the intermediate section 2S to retain the position with respect to the arms 28a of the intermediate section 2t, as shown in. Figs. 2 and 7, even though the arms 25o be shifted into an angular position with respect to the supporting frame Ill, Fig. 8.

The extensible element 43 is connected to' an arm 58 rigidly secured to the tubular reinforcing strut 38 for the intermediate bed-bottom sec- -tion 21, whereby said bed-bottom section may be lshifted angularly of the supporting frame I0.

The angular position of the foot wing 25 with regard to the supporting frame l0, and the intermediate section 21, to which it is hinged, is determined by the co-action of bars 69 and struts 10. The bars 69 are pivotally supported at their upper ends by the hinge connections 39 of the sections 25 and 21. The lower ends of the bars 69 mount rollers 1I which operate in the slots 23 of the frame angle bars 22.

The struts 10 are of L-shape form and at their upper ends are pivoted at 12 to the sides of the foot wing 25. At their lower ends the struts 10 vsupport pins 13 which are adapted to rest in notches 14 formed in the bars 69. A rod 15 connects the struts 10 so as to maintain them in proper spaced relationship to insure proper positioning of the pins 13 inthe notches 14.

.For the lowermost angular position of the foot wing 25 relative to the notched bar 69,v one leg of the L-shaped strut 10 bears against the underside of the angle iron side bar of the foot wing to which the strut is pivoted, and the strut supports the foot wing 25 at a point farther out from the hinge 39 than the pivot 12 of the strut. Hence in this position, the effective bracing length of the strut 10 is not only foreshortened, but the foot wing 25 is more i'lrmly braced than would be the case if the struts 10 were straight.

It will be obvious that the shifting of the intermediate section 21 draws the bars 69 upwardly and rearwardly, thus elevating the inner end of the foot wing 25. The angular position of the wing 25, otherwise with respect to the intermediate section 21 or the frame I0, will depend upon which of the notches 14 are engaged by the pins 13.

The operation of this improved bed is as follows.

It will be apparent from the drawings and the foregoing description that the head wing section 24 and the intermediate sections 21 and 26 are independently adjustable through the turning of the cranks 44, 45, and 46, respectively. By means of these three cranks, these three sections may be arranged in variousangular relationships between their horizontal alined position,'as shown in Figs. 1, 2,`and '7, and various angular positions exempliiied in Figs. 5, 6, and 8.

If the latch means 63 is shifted into the position shown in Fig. 2, any swinging of the intermediate section 26, to dispose the arms 26a of that sec tion at an angle tothe supporting frame I0, as

shown in Figs. 5 and 6, will result in the mattress- Y supporting portion 28 being maintained horizontal and consequently' disposed at an angle to the arms 26a, as shown in said figure.

If, on the other hand, the latch means 63 is released, as shown in Fig. 4, the arm 56 and the link 51 will be permitted to move relative of each other, the pivot pin 6I slipping out of the offset 62 and moving along the slot 6i). In that case the mattress-supporting portion 23 of the intermediate section 26 will be disposed in the same angular position with respect to the supporting frame l0 as the arms 26a, as shown in Fig. 8.

When desired, the previously-locked latch means 63 may be released after the intermediate section 2,6 has been elevated. rihe mattress-supporting portion 28 then may be lowered into the same angular position (relative to the frame I0) as that occupied by the side arms 26a. If the latch mechanism 63 is released prior to the shifting of the intermediate section 26 into an angular position with respect to the frame I0', the mattress-supporting portion 28 subsequently may be elevated into a horizontal position angularly kof the side arms 26a of the intermediate section 26 and the latch means shifted to lock the mattresssupporting portion 28 in such elevated position.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged to said frame, a bed-bottom section overlying said carrier member and hingedly connected therewith remotely from the hinged connection of said carrier member to said frame, said bed bottom section being swingable with and relative to said carrier member, means for swinging said carrier member relative to said frame, a link fixedly pivoted to said bed-bottom section and slidably pivoted to said swinging means, and locking means for securing said second pivot against sliding relationship to said swinging means whereby said bed-bottom section is angularly adjustable relative to said carrier member during swinging of said carrier member relative to said frame, thereby to maintain a substantially constant angular relation between said bed-bottom section and said frame, said bed-bottom section resting upon and being swingable with said carrier member when said locking means is disabled.

2. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged to said frame, a bed-bottom section overlying said carrier member and hingedly connected therewith remotely from the hinged connection of said carrier member to said frame, said bed bottom section being swingable with and relative to said carrier member, a rock shaft on said frame, means for actuating said rock shaft, a pair of arms on said rock shaft, a link connecting one of said arms with said carrier member and a second link connecting the other of said arms with said bed-bottom section whereby actuation oi" said rock shaft to swing said carrier member relative to said supporting frame simultaneously eiects an angular adjustment of said bed-bottom sec-'- tion with respect to said carrier member.

3. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged to said frame, a bed-bottomY section overlying said carrier member and hingedly connected therewith remotely from the hinged connection of said carr-ier member to said frame so as to be swingable with and relative to said carrier membena rock shaft on said frame, means for actuating said rock shaft, a pair of arms secured to said shaft, a link connecting one of said arms with said carrier member and a second link connecting the other of said arms withsaid bed-bottom section, whereby actuation of said rock shaft to swing said carrier member relative to said supporting frame simultaneously swings said bed-bottom section relative to said carrier member, and means for disabling the connection between said second link and said other arm to permit said bed-bottom section to restupon and swing with said carrier member.

4. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged on said frame, a bed-bottom section overlying said carrier member and hingedly con- 7 nected' therewith remotely .from the hingedconnection of said carrier member to said fra-rnc so as -to be swingable with .and relative to said carrier member, a rock shaft on said frame, a pair of arms connected to said rock shaft, a link pivoted to one of said arms and .to said carrier inember, a second link pivoted to said bed-bottom section and having formed therein a slot, a pin on the other of said arms slidably engaging said slot, said slot having an oiset portion at the end thereof remote from the pivot of said second link to said bed-bottom section, said other arm and said second link being operatively connected only when said pin is disposed in said oiset slot portion, thereby to eiiect a swinging of said bedbottom section relative to said carrier member when said carrier member is swung relative to said supporting frame and said pin is in said oiiset slot portion, and manually operable latch means for shifting said second link to displace said pin from said oiset slot portion thereby to 'disable the operative connection of said other arm and said second link and to permit said bedbottom section to rest upon and swing as aV unit with said carrier member.

5. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a bed-bottom section hingedly connected with said frame whereby said section is swingable relative to said frame, and an angularly bent strut pivcted at one end to the side of `said section at a point remote from the hinge of said section, a series of abutments supported on said frame and being selectively engageable by the otherend of said strut to support said section in various angular positions relative to said frame, said strut at its bend portion being engageable with the underside of said section at a point more remote from the bedhottorn section hinge than the strut pivot when said section occupies its lowerrnost position relative to said frame, whereby said section is more securely braced in said position and the eiective bracing length of said strut in said position is foreshortened.

6. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, an articulated bedbottom having two hingedly interconnected sections, one of which is hinged to said frame whereby said sections are swingable relative to each other and to said frame, means for positioning said one section relative to said frame, a` notched bar' hinged at one end 'to said bed-bottom and slidably supported at its other end on said frame, and an L-shaped strut pivoted at one end to the otherl of said bed-bottom sections and selectively7 engageable at its other end with one or another of the notches of said bar to alter the relative angularity of said other section and said notched bar, said strut at its bend portion being engageable with the underside of said other section at a point more remote than the strut pivot from the hinge connection of said sections to one another when said other section occupies its lowermost position relative to said notched bar whereby said other section is more firmly braced in said' position and the eiective bracing length of said strut is foreshortened.

7.,'In invaiid equipment oi the class described,

the combination oi a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged to said frame for swinging movement thereon, a bed bottom section overlying said carrier member and hinged thereto remotely from the hinged connection of the carrier member to said frame, said bed bottom section being swingable with and relative to said carrier member, adjusting means connected between said frame and said carrier member for sustaining said carrier member in various angular positions relative to said frame, and a connection between said bed bottom section and said iranie whereby the swinging of said carrier member relative to said frame is effective to swing said bed bottoni section relative to said carrier member.

8. In invalid equipment of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged to said frame for swinging movement thereon, a bed .bottom section overlying said carrier member and hinged thereto remotely from the hinged connection of the carrier member to said frame, said bed bottoni` .section being swingable with and relative to said carrier member, adjusting means connected between said frame and said carrier ineniber for sustaining said carrier member in various angular positions relative to said frame, a connection hetiveen said bed bottom section and said frame whereby the swinging of said carrier member relative to said frame is effective to swing said bed bottom section relative to said carrier inember, and, means operable to disable the connection between said bed bottom section and said ira-me in order to permit said bed bottom section to resi; upon and swing with said carrier member.

9. in invalid equipment of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a carrier member hinged. on said frame for swinging :noverient thereon, a bed bottom section overlying said carrier rneinber and hinged thereto remotely from the hinged connection of saidV carrier member to said frame, said bed bottom section being swingabie with and relative to said carrier member, adiusting means connected between said frame and said carrier member for sustaining said carrier member in various angular positions relative to said frame, a link pivoted to said frame and having a slidable pivotal Yconnection to said bed bottom section to normally permit the said bed bottom section to rest upon and swing with said carrier member, means selectively opera-bie to prevent the sliding of said last mentioned pivot whereby said iink is effective to swing said bed bottom section relative to said carrier member simultaneously with the swinging of said carrier member relative to said frame. Y

DON CARLOS TRAVIS.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Feb. 16, 1928 

